Collingwood’s senior coach, Craig McRae, faced the media after a nail‑biting Round 19 clash against Fremantle at the MCG—a match that slipped away in the final moments, leaving the Magpies one point adrift. Despite a dominant performance throughout, Collingwood couldn’t convert enough into scoreboard impact, allowing the Dockers to steal victory late.
McRae’s comments captured the frustration of controlling territory but failing to cash in. “I’d rather be learning those things now,” he admitted—a statement that underscores his commitment to growth even in defeat.
Dominating Territory, Lacking Conversion
The Magpies spent much of the day in the forward half, generating 23 more inside-50s and 20 more contested possessions than their opponents Instagram+15FOX SPORTS+15collingwoodfc.com.au+15collingwoodfc.com.au+3collingwoodfc.com.au+3collingwoodfc.com.au+3collingwoodfc.com.au+3collingwoodfc.com.au+3collingwoodfc.com.au+3. Yet, despite this dominance, Collingwood failed to convert opportunities consistently. They went into the final quarter with a 22‑point lead, only to see Fremantle unleash four consecutive goals and snatch the game FOX SPORTS.
McRae was contemplative about this shortcoming: “Can’t help but feel frustrated in that game, because you feel like you’ve done so much right, and then you don’t get the nourishment of the four points” FOX SPORTS. His emphasis wasn’t on blame or excuses, but on confronting what went wrong—and learning from it.
Building Now, Learning Now
What resonated most strongly was McRae’s mindset. In that sentence, “I’d rather be learning those things now,” he stressed the importance of recognizing these issues while there’s still time to act. Rather than letting the flaws resurface later, he’s choosing to tackle them head‑on during the season.
He elaborated on the team’s inefficiency in the forward half: they dominated but got bogged down in dense areas, making it hard to score when it mattered most YouTube+9collingwoodfc.com.au+9collingwoodfc.com.au+9FOX SPORTS. His frank assessment: they didn’t connect well enough this week. Yet he refused to overreact; instead, he framed the loss as a teaching moment.
Context and Continuity
This game marked Collingwood’s second straight loss and third narrow defeat this season afl.com.au+15FOX SPORTS+15collingwoodfc.com.au+15. While still sitting atop the ladder, McRae is wary of the psychological sting of close losses. His approach? Use the sting as fuel to sharpen the group’s execution and cohesion.
Looking ahead, he’ll likely target the forward structure—finding ways to simplify their play, reduce clutter, and finish stronger under pressure.
Injuries and Availability
In brighter news, McRae confirmed that illnesses had affected his side this week. A few players were under the weather, but most are expected to return collingwoodfc.com.aucollingwoodfc.com.au. Bobby Hill remains sidelined for personal and health reasons, while the rest of the squad should be fit and ready for Round 20.
Key Takeaways
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Dominance ≠ Victory – Inside-50s and contested possessions didn’t translate to scoreboard impact.
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Learning Culture – McRae champions rapid growth: “I’d rather be learning those things now.”
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Frustration as Fuel – Acknowledging inefficiency can drive strategic adjustments.
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Health & Return – Illnesses affected selection, but better news looms as players recover.
Looking Ahead
This loss could serve as a turning point. McRae, proven during the 2022 premiership run, is no stranger to tight finishes. His pragmatic philosophy keeps the team grounded, even when prevailing in territory. This week’s lesson plan will likely include refining forward movement and decision-making in pressure situations.
By internalizing these “things,” Collingwood positions itself not just to react after loss, but to evolve—and as McRae suggests, better to learn now than later.